Wake up every day with at least 1 thing that makes you grateful you are alive, who you are, and exactly where you are– that was the mission.

Week 2

A home that was built properly. We keep our heat set around 62 and our house is never lower than 68-9. We just bought this house in December; it is 3× bigger than our last place and 2× cheaper in power bill. I am so blessed!

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Divine Intervention. I was having a crappy day and felt world-weary. I went into my car for my lunch to “regroup” and my favorite, most inspirational song came on my fav. station (WIBI), which also was exactly what I needed to hear. (While I’m Waiting, by John Waller)

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Being the one to share a first time experience with my son. (This is a picture from the summer, but it summarizes an ongoing thing) Neither my son or myself had ever been to a live baseball game or stadium. We shared a St. Louis Cardinals game experience together this summer. It was the best feeling in the world. Oh, and our team WON. 🙂

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Cheapo rub-on tattoos. They bring extreme joy to kids, are easy to wash off, and are crazy cheap. That’s an all around win.

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TASTE BUDS.

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My mini-me. We are a Green Bay Packers loving house. It is the one thing that I am not outnumbered about. Haha, my poor husband is the odd one on this front.

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A teenager that isn’t “too cool” to participate in family shenanigans. He is such a good sport. He is such a rare jewel among teens. He is such a blessing to me!

“Mission: Better Me” time is upon us again. I’m still trying to shake off my self-disappointment from the epic fail that was my last resolution. It’s ironic really how my resolve to become better actually renders me even more broken and paralyzed then I was the previous year because of my imminent drop in self-worth from failure.

I realized that somewhere along the lines something went haywire in the whole one-year-to-the-better-me scheme.

My resolutions actually remind me of infomercials: for just 10 easy installments of a piece of your self-worth, you too can be the perfect you that God intended and never have to try ever again! Hey, that prize is big and the wording makes it seem you are giving very little–yes? I mean, what’s just a little chunk of disappointment, self-doubt, and a long “losing streak” against your morale going to effect you?

I don’t recall having ever accomplished my New Year Resolution(s) all the way through a year. So I discussed it with myself.

Me: “Why do I never complete my New Year Resolution? What’s the problem?”Myself: “Could the problem be…*gulp*… ME?!”I: “Pffft, no way.”Myself: “Yup. You have terrible taste in resolutions.”

After this inner dialogue, I took some time to really examine not only my past choices but what motives drove me to said choices. It turns out all of my resolutions have been completely superficial and did nothing to promote God or even righteous living. All my goals were to promote my own image or to make myself feel “happier.” (Um, no wonder they all failed!) Shallow resolutions are an attempt to fill a hole that I feel. I believe we all know somewhere inside of us though that only a closer relationship with God can fill that hole.

So the new question I pose to myself (and to you if you’re with me): what resolution(s) can help me become closer to God or to promote Him and his lifestyle? Here is my list so far. I am adding and subtracting from it still.

Read my Bible every day for at least 30 minutes, alone and uninterrupted. New house rule: No blood, no bug mom. No more “squeezing it in” around other things.

Memorize 1 piece of Scripture each month for the whole year. No restrictions on which piece.

Be less guarded; listen more, actively care, and hug someone (not in my family) 1ce a week. (I have serious personal space issues that I need to work through.)

Exercise 2ce a week. I figure the lower amount keeps me away from vanity interceding, but keeps me focused on being healthy so that I am not physically restricted from any task God wants me to accomplish.

Learn to say nowithout feeling guilty.

Scrapbook 1ce a week or every 2 weeks.

Set a specific day & time for Devotions with my son. No more “squeezing it in” around other things.

Well, this is all I have so far. I researched success in new year goals and the overall consensus was that if the goal(s) is specific and measurable then success is more likely.

I also read that an accountability partner almost triples the likelihood of success. So, would you be my accountability partner for one or all of these?Ordo you have one or more that you think should make the list?